Mass Poisoning in Parliament Canteen Forces Ukrainian Lawmakers to Suspend Work.

Parliamentary Session Abruptly Halted

According to TSN.ua: On February 12, 2026, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada was unable to begin its work due to a lack of the required number of votes. Only 274 of the parliament's 393 members were present in the session hall. A significant number of lawmakers were absent due to health issues, primarily stemming from a poisoning incident that occurred on February 11 in the parliament's own canteen. Consequently, the legislature ended its plenary week early and announced it would not hold any votes until February 24.

What is Known About the Illness in Parliament?

While some deputies were abroad on official trips, approximately 10% of members from various factions were likely poisoned. As Yaroslav Zheleznyak noted,

“it is partially true due to the poisoning of deputies.”

“people's deputies were poisoned. Parliament's activities have been forced to stop.”

This is not the first time the Verkhovna Rada has faced significant infrastructure problems; in early January 2023, the parliament building was left without heating and running water, which also caused a major public outcry. The situation on February 12 continues a pattern of recurring issues within the legislature and raises serious concerns about the health of lawmakers and their ability to perform their duties.

The failure to gather a quorum points to severe dysfunction in the parliament's operations. It underscores the critical need to ensure proper working conditions for elected officials, as their health directly impacts the country's political processes. The incident also raises urgent questions about food safety standards in government facilities, a topic that will likely require official investigation and public debate.